Knitting appliance



I Ihwentor (Ittorneg Illifidm'5"01l11v0n I M. S. ALLISON KNITTING APPLIANCE Jan. 24,1939.

Filed March 18, 1958 Patented Jan. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES KNITTING APPLIANCE Miriam S. Allison,

Application March 18,

Claims.

My present invention relates to an improved knitting appliance or accessory for use by persons engaged in hand-knitting, in, crocheting, and in other similar operations where thread,

5 yarn and the like are employed. As particularly applied to the use of yarn in the knitting art, it is well known to those familiar with the art that it is desirable and necessary, in. order to preserve the elasticity and durability of the yarn, that the latter be maintained in loose condition and not under tension during the knitting operation. To this end I employ a container, or a set of containers for various colors of yarn, in which container the yarn, in a loose but regular formation, is deposited, and from which it is withdrawn as the hand-knitting progresses.

The equipment of my invention also includes means whereby the yarn may loosely be gathered, as in skeins, for deposit in the container, and further the equipment includes means for retaining one end of the skein within the container while yarn is being withdrawn from the other end of the skein.

In carrying out my invention I employ a support for the container or containers in order that the container may be held in convenient position for use while the yarn is being Withdrawn.

The invention consistsin certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts involving the container and a suitable support therefor, with means for detachably fastening the ends of the skein of yarn to the container, and detachable means mounted on the support for retaining the container in position for use. In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combined and arranged according to one mode I have thus far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention, but it will be understood that changes and alterations may be made in these exemplifying structures within the scope of my claims without departing from the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the knitting appliance as a whole, showing the containers mounted on the support and in position for use.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the rack portion of the equipment at the upper end of the support.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view in elevation at the base of the support, showing parts in section for convenience of illustration.

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of the fastening device employed at the upper ends of Opportunity, Wash.

1938, Serial No. 196,711

the containers for retaining the containers on the support.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the detachable fastening device at the lower ends of the containers for retaining the latter in position on the support.

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the upper end of acontainer, and Figure 7 is a similar View showing the lower end of the container.

In the preferred form of my invention I employ a container I in which a skein of. yarn is to be deposited, and from which the yarn is withdrawn as the knitting progresses. This container may be fashioned of pasteboard or other similar light but strong material, and preferably the container is cylindrical in shape and of size suitable for the purpose.

In manufacturing the cylindrical containerthe bottom 2 is depressed or countersunk as best seen in Figure 7, and an annular flange or shoulder 3 is fashioned around the inset bottom. At its center the bottom 2 is provided with an aperture 4, and the bottom is slit at 5, in order that the inner end of the skein contained in the con.- tainer may be slipped into the slit and there retained against displacement.

The top or head of the container is provided with a removable cover or lid of circular shape, and this removable cover is also fashioned with. a depressed or inset head 6 and an annular flange I that fits over the upper end of the open-top container. At the center of the depressed head 6 an eyelet 8 is affixed through which the free end of the skein of yarn is passed after the skein has been deposited in the container, and this free end of the yarn may be temporarily fastened by means of an exterior, resilient, tongue 9, preferably formed integral with the eyelet. When the yarn is not being withdrawn from the container, the projecting end of the skein may be slipped under-the tongue and held between the tongue and the head to prevent displacement, and tangling. When the yarn is being withdrawn from the container, the projecting portion of the yarn is first freed from the temporary fastening.

One or more of the containers may be employed in the hand knitting operation, and preferably yarns of differing colors are deposited for use in the several containers, in order that the desired color of yarn may be readily accessible for use when required. For this purpose I provide a. convenient rack by means of which the several containers may be supported in compact arrangement, and as the containers, and the the containers.

the snap hooks N5 of the base disk l4.

'cover of the containers.

rack, are portable, the containers, and the rack with its supported containers, may be placed in position most convenient for use.

In the exemplified form of the rack or support illustrated in the drawing I utilize a base comprising crossed bars l and II, and an upright post or standard I2, which parts are rigidly joined together in suitable manner, as by the screw [3 that passes upwardly through the bars and into the bottom of the post.

As indicated in Figure 1 the containers are grouped about the post and supported on the rack, at its lower end, and means are mounted on the post for engagement with the upper and lower ends of the containers for retaining the latter in position for use.

For engagement with the bottom portions of the containers, I employ a retaining disk 14, fashioned of resilient metal, and as indicated in Figure 5 this base disk or fastener is provided with a central aperture l5 that is slipped over the upper end of the post and dropped down the post to rest upon the base of the rack. The base disk is fashioned with resilient latching hooks 16 at its outer edge, and the number of hooks corresponds to the number of containers mounted on the support. These resilient hooks snap around the flange 3 at the bottom of a set of containers, and assist in holding the containers in upright position.

For engagement with the upper or top ends' of the containers I employ a split sleeve I! that is adapted to be slipped over the top of the post and slid down the post to position for use with This split sleeve is of resilient metal so that it will frictionally engage the post against accidental displacement, and the lower end of the sleeve is fashioned with resilient snap hooks l8 similar in construction and operation to These snap hooks or spring detents l8, corresponding in number to the number of containers supported on the rack, are designed to snap over the upper end or the annular flange of the removable Thus by the use of the snap hooks on the base disk I4 and the complementary snap hooks 18 on the split sleeve, one or more of the containers may be retained in position for use on the rack or support.

If the skein of yarn is not in condition for deposit in the container, I provide means whereby the yarn may be wound into a skein preparatory for deposit in the container. For this purpose I employ a detachable holder on the post l2 on which the yarn may be wound into the desired skein for deposit in the container. This holder, as best seen in Figure l is of cruciform shape, and its crossed arms 19 are mounted on and secured to the post by means of a removable bolt 29 having an enlarged head 2!, and a nut 22 is employed for fastening the holder rigidly on the post.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2 the arms of the holder are provided with series of sockets 23 in which pins 24 are adapted to be secured. The pins 24 may be inserted and frictionally engaged in the sockets to provide a skein of desired size. In Figures 1 and 2 the pins are shown in selected sockets to provide a skein of maximum size, but it will be understood that the size of the holder may be decreased by employing the pins in other sockets in well known manner. The yarn is wound upon the pins in customary manner, the skein then removed and deposited in the container l, the inner end of the skein being attached at the slit 5 to the bottom of the container, and if desired the projecting end of the skein may be secured, temporarily, under the spring tongue 9 on the exterior of the removable lid after the latter has been placed on the container.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination in a knitting-appliance with a rack comprising a supporting base and post, of a skein-container mounted adjacent the post, means mounted at the base of the rack for engagement with the bottom of the container, and means mounted on the post for engagement with the upper end of the container for retaining the container in position for use.

2. The combination in a knitting appliance with a rack and including a supporting post and a skein-container mounted adjacent the post, of a base disk having a resilient snap hook for engagement with the bottom portion of the container and mounted on the post, a sleeve mounted on the post above the container, and a snap hook on said sleeve for engaging the upper portion of the container.

3. The combination with a supporting post and a container having upper and lower annular flanges, of an open center disk mounted on the post and a snap hook integral with said disk for engagement with the lower flange, a split resilient sleeve mounted on the post, and a snap hook integral with the sleeve for engagement with said upper flange.

4. A container for a skein of yarn having an inset bottom and a slitted aperture in said bottom, a removable cover for said container, said 'cover having a depressed head and a central eyelet, and said eyelet having an exterior resilient attaching tongue in frictional contact with the head.

5. The combination with a supporting post having a skein-holder and detachable means for fastening said holder on the post, means for supporting yarn-containers at the base of the post, and detachable means for securing the yarn-containers in operative position with relation to the post.

MIRIAM S. ALLISON. 

